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Charlie, who is in year eight, lost his mum last year and in the week after she passed away he would arrive at school early every day to see Selkie.

Selkie helps students through difficult times

A head teacher’s pet dog has become an honorary member of the teaching staff at Bickley Park School in Bromley, after showing promise as a therapy dog.

Four-year-old Labrador Selkie helps children who suffer from cynophobia, or fear of dogs, and acts as a talking therapy provider for those who need extra help in difficult times.

Charlie, who is in year eight, lost his mum last year and in the week after she passed away he would arrive at school early every day to see Selkie.

He says he found her very calming and liked the way she treated him as a special friend - whenever he feels down she is always waiting in the office for him.

Patrick Wenham, head teacher at Bickley Park School, said: “Dogs are often referred to as man’s best friend but for those who have a genuine fear of encountering them, life can be very difficult.

“Selkie has always been heavily involved in the school community, and having her present is proving invaluable for those who have a fear to overcome or those that just need to trust someone who won’t pass judgement.

“Research has shown that stroking animals has a positive effect on mood, and can help relax and soothe people. Selkie is a very calm, good-natured dog who is happy to take the role of pupil therapist. She is looking forward to helping more children in any way she can.”

Butterfly Conservation's Big Butterfly Count launches on Friday, 17 July and will run until Sunday 9 August. Members of the public can get involved by downloading the Big Butterfly Count App or recording results on a downloadable sheet available from bigbutterflycount.org/.

'It's a fantastic activity for people from three to 103 years and we'd encourage everyone to take 15 minutes in an appropriate outdoor space during sunny conditions to simply appreciate the nature around them and do their bit to help us understand butterfly populations,' said a Butterfly Conservation spokesperson.

Dechra Veterinary Products Ltd (Dechra) has announced a key appointment to support veterinary professionals across Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

Karen Hockley has been appointed as a telesales account manager and will provide the latest products, news and developments from Dechra. She joins the company from a large mixed practice in Northern Ireland where she was the branch manager.

Before that, Karen had worked for a multinational veterinary pharmaceutical company as a key account manager for Northern Ireland.
She can be contacted at karen.hockley@dechra.com or 087 219 54 30.